Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, according to Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy. The island is facing its worst rolling blackouts in decades due to a US blockade that has severely restricted fuel imports.
Key Takeaways
Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil due to US sanctions, causing rolling blackouts lasting up to 22 hours daily. The crisis stems from a US blockade that began in January, cutting off key suppliers like Venezuela.
- Cuba's energy minister confirms no reserves remain for diesel or fuel oil
- Havana residents protest with road blockades demanding power restoration
- US offers $100 million aid contingent on Cuban government reforms
- UN condemns US blockade as unlawful and harmful to basic human rights
The national grid is operating entirely on domestic crude oil, natural gas, and renewable energy, with many neighborhoods in Havana experiencing up to 22 hours of darkness per day. Protests broke out Wednesday evening as hundreds took to the streets blocking roads with garbage and shouting 'turn on the lights'.
The crisis has been exacerbated by rising global oil prices amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, as well as complications in importing fuel. Cuba continues negotiations to import fuel despite the blockade but faces significant challenges.
Neither Mexico nor Venezuela, once top suppliers of oil to Cuba, has sent fuel since a January 2026 executive order threatening tariffs on any country shipping fuel to the island. The Trump administration has called Cuba's government 'an unusual and extraordinary threat', suggesting the White House could turn its attention to Cuba when the Iran war is concluded.
The United Nations last week called Trump's fuel blockade unlawful, stating it had obstructed the Cuban people’s right to development and undermined their rights to food, education, health, and water and sanitation. The renewed power cuts come as the US blockade on fuel imports enters its fourth month, crippling public services across the Caribbean island of nearly 10 million people.
The Trump administration has offered $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Cuba on the condition that the island’s communist government agrees to 'meaningful reforms,' according to a statement from the US State Department. The offer comes with strings attached, requiring Cuba to commit to changes approved by the Trump administration. Critics have denounced the trade embargo as worsening humanitarian conditions on the island.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 4 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.